In light of DSIT's latest announcement on the Online Safety Bill, Samaritans has issued this comment urging the Government to do more
The Online Safety Bill still fails to go far enough to make the internet a safer place for everyone, not just children. The Government may think it’s addressing harmful suicide and self-harm content for adults, but it falls into the trap of making us as individuals responsible for keeping ourselves safe, rather than requiring all platforms to do more to protect people. The Bill can help save lives and the public agrees. When polled, three-quarters (75%) agreed that tech companies should be required by law to prevent harmful suicide and self-harm content being shown to users of all ages. Damaging suicide and self-harm content can have tragic consequences, so the Government should do much more with this unique opportunity to prevent suicide.
Jacqui Morrissey, Assistant Director of Influencing at Samaritans